WRAP: 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter Finals

A wrap of the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals with AJ Lucantonio and Justin Davies.

All listed times are venue local (BST for UK, CEST for France).

RELATED: See the full list of 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Draw and Results.

Wakefield Trinity 12
Leigh Leopards 20

After being flogged by the same opposition just a week before, Leigh have scored revenge over Wakefield Trinity, winning by 20-12 to advance to the next stage of the Challenge Cup.

After a tense opening quarter of the game, dominated by Wakefield in the field position department. Leigh were able to withstand that and cross for the first try of the contest. A shift out wide saw Keenan Brand into space before kicking back in field, the bounce sat up perfectly for Lachie Lam who picked it up to score next to the posts. Despite both sides having scoring opportunities towards the break, the score remained at 6-0 in favour of the visitors.

Despite Wakefield having a handful of scoring chances, they crossed for their first try within 90 seconds of play resuming. A high kick from Mason Lino was allowed to bounce by the Leigh back three, it sat up for Matt Russell and the home side were back on level terms. That appeared to give the hosts an edge, a big break from Oliver Pratt had Leigh on the backfoot before finding Josh Rourke to give Wakefield a 12-6 lead.

But that was the end of the scoring for Wakefield. Just before the hour mark, following an error from the home side, Leigh capitalised off the scrum. Tesi Niu was bumping off defenders like a bowling ball as he charged across to level the scores at 12 apiece. A late shot penalty with twelve minutes to go allowed Leigh to retake the lead. Wakefield self-imploded after that, a long pass on their own goal-line was spilled, into the arms of Bailey Hodgson to score the game sealing try. - AJ

Venue: DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield. Date: Fri, 4th April. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: Leigh 6-0. Penalties: Leigh 7-3. Referee: Jack Smith. Crowd: 6,125.

Wakefield: Rourke, Russell, Scott, Pratt, Johnstone; Lino, Russell; McMeeken (C), Hood, Uele, Croft, Vagana, Pitts. Int: Rodwell, Atoni, Cozza, Smith.
Leigh: Armstrong, Hodgson, Niu, Hanley, Brand; O'Brien, Lam (C); Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Neill, Halton, Liu. Int: Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis.

Wakefield Trinity (12)
Tries: Matthew Russell, Josh Rourke
Goals: Mason Lino 2/2

Leigh Leopards (20)
Tries: Lachlan Lam, Tesi Niu, Bailey Hodgson
Goals: Gareth O'Brien 4/5

Catalans Dragons 20
Salford Red Devils 12

Catalans Dragons won 20-12 against Salford Red Devils in their Challenge Cup Quarter Final clash on Friday night.

The Dragons were the first side to get on the scoresheet. Sam Tomkins provided the pass for Nic Cotric to muscle his way over.

They almost repeated the dose again from another set play. It was fired out to Cotric but this time he stepped on the line.

Next, Reimis Smith drifted across field before he found Arthur Romano to touch down in the right corner for Catalans.

The Red Devils needed a lift and they were helped when Elliott Whitehead was binned for a high tackle.

They used it to their advantage to bring it back to 8-6. Chris Hill drove forward before he popped it back to Joe Shorrocks to score.

The Dragons were on fire from the opening whistle to the second half. Whitehead after returning from the bin collected a four-pointer to stretch their advantage.

Another superb effort put the Dragons ahead 20-12 soon after. Theo Fages stepped past some flimsy defense to touch down.

Salford weren't going down without a fight. The visitor broke from their own end with Esan Marsters flying down the wing and connecting with Matty Foster.

The Red Devils huffed and puffed but they couldn't blow down the Dragons defense any further which meant their cup journey ended here.

For the Dragons, it is another semi-final appearance where they will face Super League leaders Hull KR. - Justin

Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan. Date: Fri, 4th April. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: Catalans 8-6. Penalties: Catalans 7-5. Referee: Aaron Moore. 

Catalans: Tomkins, Makinson, Romano, Smith, Cotric; Keary, Fages; Pangai Junior, Da Costa, Bousquet, Sironen, Whitehead, Partington. Int: Garcia (C), Sims, Satae, Aispuro-Bichet.
Salford: Hankinson, Cross, Marsters, Vaughan, Connell; Nikorima, Atkin; Ormondroyd, Hill, Hill, Wright, Watkins (C), Shorrocks. Int: Mellor, Foster, Wilson, Chan.

Catalans Dragons (20)
Tries: Elliott Whitehead, Théo Fages, Nick Cotric, Arthur Romano
Goals: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 2/2

Salford Red Devils (12)
Tries: Joe Shorrocks, Matty Foster
Goals: Chris Hankinson 2/2

Hull FC 16
Hull KR 32

Hull KR have continued their undefeated start to the British rugby league season, trouncing rivals Hull FC 32-16 to advance to the semi finals of the competition.

It was a typical derby early on with both sides going end-to-end in a territorial battle. However, it was Rovers who broke through for the first points of the game. A nice shift down to the right edge saw simple passes through the hands that ended up in the arms of Tom Davies to score the opener.

Off the next set, FC were in shock after a Tyrone May bomb was allowed to bounce into the arms of Joe Burgess and it was 12-0 in the blink of an eye. It soon got worse before the break. Peta Hiku could not be put to ground and he was able to get the pass away to Sam Luckley before finding Jack Broadbent to score and it was 18-0 at the break.

Straight after the break, a beautiful set play down the left edge saw Oliver Gildart deliver slick hands to Burgess to score his second try and it was 24-0. FC were struggling to keep the ball carrier on the ground, this time Rovers kept the ball alive and Jez Litten went straight through for a 30-0 lead.

Hull FC finally got on the board with under half an hour to go. It was a beautiful pass from Jordan Rapana that landed in the arms of Lewis Martin to give the black and whites some scoreboard credibility. Three minutes later, it was a barnstorming run from import Herman Ese'ese who stormed across to give Hull a sniff.

A penalty goal meant that Hull FC's chances of a semi-final birth was out of the question and it was a 32-12 lead. A last minute try to Zak Hardaker was nothing more of consolation, despite being the comeback kids of the UK rugby league to date, this was one mountain too high to climb for Hull FC. - AJ

Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull. Date: Sat, 5th April. Kickoff: 2:30 PM. Halftime: Hull KR 18-0. Penalties: Hull KR 6-4. Referee: Chris Kendall. Crowd: 20,226.

Hull FC: Rapana, Briscoe, Hardaker, Litten, Martin; Pryce, Sezer (C); Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Chamberlain, Lane, Asiata. Int: Aydin, Ashworth, Moy, Eseh.
Hull KR: Broadbent, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Tanginoa, Minchella (C). Int: Litten, Luckley, Whitbread, Brown.

Hull FC (16)
Tries: Zak Hardaker, Herman Ese'ese, Lewis Martin
Goals: Will Pryce 2/3

Hull Kingston Rovers (32)
Tries: Joe Burgess 2, Tom Davies, Jez Litten, Jack Broadbent
Goals: Jez Litten 6/7

Warrington Wolves 20
St Helens 12

Warrington Wolves won 20-12 against St Helens in their game in their game at Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tight opening 15 minutes in this game as the teams waited for the first error. The Saints produced the first error which opened the door for the Wolves.

The hosts drew first blood in this Quarter Final clash. George William twisted an inside ball for Matt Dufty to stride over for 6-0.

St Helens were able to draw level before the break. Jonny Lomax punched through a grubber which Tristan Sailor latched onto.

The Wolves roared into action in the second half. Matty Ashton broke downfield before being wrapped up close to the line.

Warrington were awarded a penalty for offside then Marc Sneyd stepped up to pilot home the penalty goal for 8-6.

They profited further from the boot soon after. Williams dabbed a kick through and Ben Currie was able to reel it in to score.

St Helens kept fighting for their survival in the competition. A kick was spilled into the path of Moses Mbye who found Daryl Clark to dive over under the sticks for 14-12.

Williams turned from architect to author with a solo score. He sliced through the Saints defense and had enough legs to get to the line.

The Wolves held out for the final ten minutes and earned themselves a semi-final spot where they will take on Leigh Leopards. - Justin

Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington. Date: Sun, 6th April. Kickoff: 2:30 PM. Halftime: 6-all. Penalties: Warrington 5-3. Referee: Liam Moore. Crowd: 10,114.

Warrington: Dufty, Lindop, Currie, Tai, Ashton; Williams (C), Sneyd; Musgrove, Walker, Vaughan, Holroyd, Fitzgibbon, Harrison. Int: Powell, Yates, Philbin, Crowther.
St Helens: Welsby, Bennison, Whitley, Percival, Sambou; Sailor, Lomax (C); Walmsley, Mbye, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles. Int: Clark, Paasi, Wingfield, Delaney.

Warrington Wolves (20)
Tries: Ben Currie, George Williams, Matt Dufty
Goals: Marc Sneyd 4/4

St Helens (12)
Tries: Daryl Clark, Tristan Sailor
Goals: Jon Bennison 2/2

Semi Final draw

To be played 10-11 May

Venues to be determined

Hull KR v Catalans

Warrington v Leigh

RELATED: Click here to view the full Betfred Challenge Cup season from the first round onwards.